Visible index



Patented Mar. 22,1932

UNITED STA HOWARD M. KILPATBICK,-OF NEW YORK, Y.

' VISIBLE INDEX Application filed July 10,

This invention relates to visible indexes or directories comprising a series of interlocking cards adapted for the insertion or removal of cards at any point in the series,

whereby the alphabetical. or other order of the series may be maintained as cards are taken away or added. The main object of the invention is to pro- Vide an easily constructed, easily operated J arrangement whereby the cards are suspended one from the other without the use of any frame or similar device.

These and other objects will appear as the description proceeds; and the invention i as claimed is not limited to the'construction shown.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front face view of the index;

Figs. 2 and 3 show sections taken on the I lines 22 and 3+3 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a back view of the indezt;

Fig. 5 is a view similarto Fig. 1, but showing one card removed;

Fig. 6 shows the card thus removed; I

i Fig. 7 is a front view showing the cards supported by a portable frame; and 7 Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line Of 7- i The index shown herein is designed for use as a telephone directory at the switch board of apartment houses, but it is understood it will find a large pumber of other uses and the invention is in no way limited to the use shown. I The typical cards 10 and 11 each comprises an item space 12 at its upper half in which a name 14 or other item may be written or printed. Each card is provided at each lower corner with a vertical slot 15, and at each upper corner with an end tab 16 adapted on the outward flexing of the card, at the center, to be inserted in the slots of the card just above, thus locking the cards together. Each tab has a notch 17 in its lower edge engageable with the lower end of the slot of the card next'above for holding the tab in the slot. A marginal recess 17 (Fig. 6) just 'below the tab 16 extends to the transverse end-edge of the card and facilitates the insertion of the tab into the-slot. v

1920. Serial. No. 395,191.

The top finishing card 18 is provided with the vertical slots 15 the same as-the typical cards but is not provided with tabs.' Instead it is provided with an eyelet 19 by which it can be suspended from a nail or the like on a wall or other support.

The lower finishing card 20 is provided with the end tabs but has no slots.

The card 11 shown in Fig. 1 is removed as shown inFigs. 5 and 6 as when the person named moves away; the cards just above and below being then rejoined, while Fig. 7 shows an additional card 21 as when a new person comes to the apartment house. A card may be used twice by writing on both sides should it be found desirable, the space 22 exposed in Fig. 4 may be used instead of the space 12.

In practice a series of any convenient length can be suspended from the top card 18, but-to prevent the series from being too long for easy observation, it may be desirable to hang several series side-by-side.

It may sometimes be desirable to mount" the cards on a swinging or portable frame.

Such a frame may be merelya piece of sheet metal 23, (Figs. 7 and 8) provided with side and bottom flanges 24 and 25 for holding the cards in place, and from which the, series may be drawn out at the top. The upper end of the frame may be extended and provided with an eyelet 26 for hanging, or the frame may be swingingly supported in the well-known manner.

My improved card is adapted for easy interlocking with the card above by flexing the body of the card without flexingthe tab '16 and without pressing it a ainst the card above,'and is short enough rom top to bottom to permit the tab to be grasped on both faces to facilitate easy insertion.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a pair of cards, one card "being provided with slots at its horizontally opposite ends, the other card being provided with end tabs adapted for engagement in the slots of the first card,- for suspension from the same, each tab having a notch in its lower edge engageable with the lower edge of a slot for holding the tab in the slot.

. 2. In comb'nation, a pair of cards, one card being provided with a pair of cut-away portions, each including a lower margin, the other card being provided with horizontally projecting tabs adapted for engagement in the cutaway portions, each tab having a notch in its lower edge engageable with one of said margins for holding the tab on said margins.

3. In combination, a series of cards adapted for interengaging overlapping stepped relation, each card provided at its lower corners with slots and at its upper corners with end tabs adapted for engagement in the slots of the adjacent card just above, whereby each card is held against endwise movement with the card above, each card being of such width from top to bottom as to permit a tab to be grasped on both faces, when the hand is held below the card, to facilitate eas insertion.

4:. In combination, a series 0 cards adapted for interengaging overlapping stepped relation, each card provided at its lower corners with a vertical slot and at its upper corners with oppositely pointing end tabs adapted for easy insertion into engagement in the slots of the adjacent card just above, whereby each card may be flexed and attached without pressing against the card above.

5. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each card lying substantially in a single plane and each provided between its middlepart and its transverse ends with attaching means and complementary means; the

attaching means being engageable with the complementary means of the card just above to hold the cards in overlapping relation leaving a margin of each card exposed; each card having indicia on said margin, the indicia of all of the cards being simultaneously visible; the attaching means of a card being adapted to engage with or disengage from the. complementary means of the card just above by a frontward flexing movement of the card, while all of the indicia are simultaneously visible.

.6. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each provided between its middle part.

and its transverse ends with attaching means and complementary means; the attaching means being engageable with the complementary means of the card just above to hold the cards in overlapping relation leaving the upper front margin of each card exposed;

each card having indicia on said upper front margin; means for anchoring the top card of the series to a support; the attaching means of a card being adaptedto engage with or disengage from the complementary means of the card just above by a frontward flexing movement of the card, while the cards above are anchored by the anchoring means and while the indicia of all the cards are all simultaneously visible.

7. In combination, a vertical series of cards, all of each card lying in the'same plane, and

each card being providedbetweenit's middle part and its transverse ends with attaching means and complementary means; the attaching means being engageable with the complementary'means of the card just above to hold the cards in overlapping relation leaving the upper front margin of each card exposed; each card having indicia on said margin; the attaching means of a card being adapted to engage with or disengage from the complementary means of the card just above by a frontward movement of the middle of the card and the cards below it, while the cards above are unflexed and while all the indicia and a portion of all the attaching means and complementary means are simultaneously frontwardly visible.

8. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each provided near its transverse ends with attaching means and complementary means; the attaching means being engageable with the complementary means of the card just above to hold the cards in overlapping relation leaving the upper front margin of each card exposed; each card having indic1a on said margin adjacent to the attaching means; the attaching means of a card being adapted to engage with or disengage from the complementary means of the card just above by a frontward movement of the middle part of the card, while the indicia and a portion of the adjacent attaching and complementary means are simultaneously visible.

'9. In combination, a vertical series of cards each card lying all in the same plane and being free of folds and provided near its transverse endswith attaching and complementary means; the attaching means being adapted to engage with the complementary means of the card just above to hold the cards against endwise relative movement, and in overlapping relation leaving on each card an exposed upper front marginadapted to receive indicia thereon; the attaching means of a card being adapted to come into engagelow the tab; the tabs being adapted to engage with the slots of the card just above for holding the cards together in overlapping relation leaving a margin of each card exposed; the cards being provided with indicia on such exposed margins; all of the indicia being simultaneously exposed while the cards are thus held together. v j

11. In combination, a, vertical series "of ment with, or to disengage from, the complecards, each provided between its middle part and each transverse end with an outwardly pointed tab, and a closed slot having part thereof below the tab; the tabs being adapted to engage with the slots of the card just above for holding the cards in overlapping relation leaving the upper margin of each card exposed the cards being provided with indicia on such exposed margms, all the indicia being simultaneously exposed.

12. In combination, a. vertical series of cards, each card lying in a single plane and being free of folds and provided near each transverse end with an outwardly pointed tab, and a closed slot having part thereof below the tab, the tabs being adapted to engage with the slots of the card just above for holding the cards in'overlapping relation leaving on each card an exposed upper margin adapted to receive 1nd1c1a; and means for anchoring the upper card of the series to a,

support; eachv card being adapted to come into engagement with, or disengage from, the

card just above and the card below while the upper cards are still connected to the anchoring means and while all of said upper margins and portions of all the tabs and slots are simultaneously exposed.

13. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each card being free of folds and provided near each transverse end with an outwandly pointed tab, and a closed slot having its lower part below the tab, the tabs being adapted to engage with the slots of the card just above for holding the cards in overlapping relation leaving the upper margin of each card exposed; the cards being provided 17. A sectional record includin a plurality of separate sections each provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair, of horizontally aligned and opposed slots and adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in an imbricated series, in combination with a back having a pair of slots for interengagement with the tongues of one of said sections.

18. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each card being provided between its middle part and each transverse end with an outwardly directed tab and a slot, and a marginal recess adjacent to and between the tab and slot.

19. In a sectional record, a section provided with a pair of horizontally aligned and opposed tongues and a pair of horizontally aligned slots, the lower edge of said tongues projecting outwardly and downwardly relative to the section.

HOWARD M. KILPATRICK.

with indicia on such exposed margins; each card being adapted to come into engagement with, or disengage from, the card just above and the card below while the upper cards are still connected to the anchoring means and all of said indicia are still exposed.

14. In combination, a vertical series of cards, each card being provided near each transverse end with a slot, and with an out wardly pointed tab and a marginal recess and opposed tongues and adapted for interengagement at said tongues and slots in an lmbrlcated series, the tongues of each respective section being concealed by an adjacent section. 

